Pressing machine



Feb. 11, 1936. G. w. JOHNSON PRESSING MACHINE Filed Aug'. 51, 1953INVENTOR Y 6w M bfi/w/z a M #4, 14, ma ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 Losses PATET OFFIQE PRESSING MACHINE George W.Johnson,

Norwood, Ohio, assignor to' The American Laundry Machinery Company,

Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 31, 1933, Serial No.687,671

19'Glaims. This invention relates to pressing machines and particularlyto a pressing machine which is automatically and intermittently operatedto bring a pressing member alternatively before an operator forarranging the lay of the work and then into registration with a pressinghead to complete athe pressing operation.

One object of my invention is to provide a pressing machine embodying aplurality of movablepadded beds or bucks and a plurality of fixed heatedpressing heads together with suitable driving mechanism forautomatically and intermittently moving the padded beds selectively intoand out of position before the operator or be- :neath .a pressing head.

Another object of my invention is to provide a .single pressure applyingactuator and means for connecting the actuator alternatively with eachof the beds to move it onto pressing engagement with its respective headwhen the pressing members are in registering position.

.Another object of my invention is to provide a motor for moving apressing bed or beds into and/or out of registration with a coactingpress- 'ing head.

Another object of the invention relates to a control apparatus wherebythe movement of a bed to position under its respective headautomatically causes actuation of the pressure applying'unit to raisethe bed into pressure engagement with the head, and whereby the releaseof pressure and the lowering of the bed automatically causes actuationof a power unit to move the bed from its registering position to an openposition adjacent the operator.

Still another feature has to do with a novel :snubbing mechanism forretarding the moving has been moved upwardly into engagement with thehead; Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail partly in :section of a valve and operating parts forcontrolling the bed reciprocating motor; while Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetail view partly in section of valves and operating mechanism forcontrolling the flow and exhaust of fluid to the pressure ap- "plyingcylinder.

My invention comprises a pressing machine embodying spaced pressing bedsand pressing .heads, the beds being interconnected and adapted to beintermittently moved from a single central position common toboth bedsand intermediate the spaced pressing heads into a position ofregistration with their respective coaotive pressing heads, togetherwith means for reciprocating the beds into and out of their respectivepositions and means for moving the beds into and out of pressingengagement with their respective heads.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a pair of spaced beds mounted on acarriage or support and adapted to travel in a substantially horizontalpath, along which are arranged spaced pressing heads. The distancebetween the centers of the heads is approximately twice the distancebetween the centers of the companion beds, whereby only one of a pair ofbeds may be in registry with a head, while the other bed is in exposedposition between the spaced heads and accessible to an operator. Asingle power unit is located intermediate the spaced heads and a membermounted on the bed carriage serves alternatively to supply closingpressure between the power unit and that one of the beds which at thetime is in registering position beneath its coacting head. An automaticinterlock actuates the power unit in pressure applying direction whenone or the beds reaches registering position, and a second power unitacting automatically at the end of the pressing operation moves one ofthe beds out of registration with its head while at the same time movingthe other bed into registration with its companion head.

My invention is embodied in a machine comprising frame members l0, IIand I2 which support rails I3 and I4 along which a bed support orcarriage I5 is, adapted to move on rollers IS. The carriage isillustrated as supporting two beds l1 and I8 having downwardly extendingstems l9 and permitting vertical movement of the beds with respect tothe carriage. Suitable means is provided for maintaining the beds inalignment during their vertical movement, such as the extended flanges2| and dowel pins 22. Mounted on the frame members I 0 and I2 arestationary heads 23 and 24 adapted to coact with beds l1 and I8. Theseheadsmay be provided with heating means, as desired, in any manner knownto the art. The rail I3 is shown with a V-shaped head and thecooperating rollers l6 are suitably grooved so as to maintain a straightpath of travel, while the rollers coacting with rail M are plain so asto avoid any possible binding which might occur if both sets of rollerswere grooved.

The parts are shown in Fig. 1 with bed I! in registration with head 23preparatory to applying pressure to engage the bed with its head. Apressure applying member is mounted on the carriage to alternativelyconnect a power unit, mounted centrally of the machine, with whicheverbed happens to be in registering position. The structure shown foraccomplishing this purpose comends bent downwardly and inwardly to formforks 21 and 23 which are adapted to engage a plunger connected with apower unit. This power unit is illustrated as a fluid motor 29 having acylinder 30, a piston 3i and a piston rod or plunger 32 which isembraced by the aforementioned. forks alternatively. Fluid pressuresupplied to motor 29 is controlled by inlet valve 36 and outlet valve35. Valve 34 admits pressure from a suitable source, as conduit 33, tothe common inlet and exhaust conduit 36 leading to cylinder 30, whilevalve 35 connects conduit 35 in turn with exhaust conduit 3i leading tothe atmosphere. A spring 38 serves to return piston 3| to its upward orinoperative position when pressure is relieved by the opening of exhaustvalve 35.

Means is provided for automatically actuating the control mechanism forthe power'unit when either head reaches registering position. Themechanism illustrated comprises a cam 39 mount ed on the bed carriageand having a notch at each end into which a control lever for the powerunit moves. In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, a'follower 4! carried by a control lever 32 moves into cam notch it underthe action of spring 43 when bed fl'l comes into registering positionbeneath head 23. This movement of control lever 42 closes exhaust valve35 and opens inlet valve 34, thus admitting pressure above piston 3|,driving the piston and plunger downwardly, which carries the right handend of pressure applying arm 25 downwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, andraises the left hand end of the arm intoengagement with stem l9 of'bedl1, thus causing pressure engagement between the pressing members. Atthe completion of the pressing operation, the operator actuates acontrol handle 44 connected with control lever 2, moving said lever in aclockwise direction, which closes valve 34 and opens valve 35 exhaustingthe pressure from cylinder 36 and permitting the bed to move downwardlyout of pressing engagement with the head, due to the weight of theparts. 7

Means is provided for automatically moving a bed out of registrationwith its companion head at the close of the pressing operation, and, ofcourse, since the two beds are on a common carriage, such movement ofone bed out of registering position moves the other bed into registeringposition beneath its companion head. The means provided comprises apower unit arranged to give the bed support or carriage a kicksufficient to move it along the rails as far as required. For thispurpose, I have shown fluid motors 45 and 46 mounted at opposite ends ofthe carriage runway, the parts of which are identical and will thereforebe described in connection with motor 45 only. Motor 65 has a piston lland a suitable plunger is adapted to contact the carriage l5 andnormally maintained in its retracted position by spring d9. The fluidpressure supply to this reciprocation motor 45 is controlled by a valve56 adapted to supply fluid pressure from a suitable outside source, asconduit 5!, through conduit 52 to motor 65. The motor cylinder isprovided with a small outlet port 53 which does not interfere with thebuilding up'of operating pressure in the cylinder, but serves to exhaustthe cylinder after the completion of a power stroke. Valve 56 isarranged to be actuated automatically upon movement of the pressingmembers out of pressing engagement and, to this end,

an actuating mechanism for the valve is provided lever 25 after thecompletion of the pressing operation. This control mechanism is the samefor valves 50 and 50a and will be described in connection with valve 50only. A lever 54 is pivotally mounted on the frame as at 55 and isadapted to contact the stem 56 of valve 50. A second lever 57 ispivotally mounted on lever 54 and has an abutment 58 which limits itsmovement in clockwise direction. A coil spring 59 serves to maintainlever 5'! in its position at the limit of its clockwise movement whichis somewhat past dead center, as shown in Fig. 2, where it is adapted toact as a pressure applying strut to move lever 54 clockwise. The cookingof the control mechanism for valve 5|! is accomplished by arranginglever 51 in position to be contacted by a projection 60 of pressure arm25 when this arm is moved to the left with carriage 95, as seen in Figs.1 and 4. This moves lever 51 counter-clockwise without affecting lever54. Upon the application g of pressure between bed I1 and head 23, asshown in Fig. 2, projection 6|] moves upward and lever 57 is movedclockwise by action of spring 59 to a position directly beneathprojection 60. Thereafter, upon completion of the pressing operation,when the left hand end of pressure applying arm 25 moves downward,projection 60 contacts lever 51, thus moving lever 54 in a clockwisedirection and opening valve 50 which admits fluid pressure as beforedescribed to reciprocation motor 45 and causes plunger 48 to kickcarriage E5 to the right, whereupon bed ll moves to open position andbed I8 moves into registration beneath its companion head 24. V

In this latter position fork 28 of the pressure applying arm 25 embracesplunger 32 'of the power unit 29 and follower 4! of control lever entersnotch 46a. of cam 39 and thereupon the pressing operation occurs betweenbed I8 and head 2d in a manner similar to that already described.

For snubbing or retarding the moving parts, that is, the bed carriageand its associated parts at the ends of its path of travel, I provideinclined friction pads ti and 62 at opposite ends of the-s;

crank is yieldingly biased in a clockwise direction ,1

by spring 88 carried on a rod 59 connected with the frame. This servesto retard the motion of the carriage and'associated parts as they reachthe limit of their horizontal travel and the parts a are finally broughtto rest by a cushioning spring ill which engages a suitable boss H onthe carriage. Similar parts at the other end of the machine aresimilarly numbered with the addition of the suffix a.

The operation of the pressing machine is as follows: With the parts inthe position shown in Fig. 1, work arranged on bed' ii is ready to bepressed againstheadZS. When carriage 15 reaches the left-hand limit ofits travel, follower 4i moves into cam notch ii). Control lever 42 movescounterclockwise, closing outlet valve 35 and opening inlet valve 3% toadmit fluid pressure above piston 3i. Plunger 32 moves downwardly whichcarries fork 27! of pressure. applying lever 25 downwardly. This movesthe left-hand end of lever 25 upwardly presses control handle 44.

and causes pressure engagement between bed l 1 and head '23. When thepressing operation is completed and the operator has arranged the laykicks bed carriage l5 to the right. -When the parts come to rest by theaction of snubbers 64 and a, follower 4| moves "into cam notch a tocause pressure engagement betwee-n bed l8 and head 24. 'Ihe operatorthen removesthe pressed work from bed l'l, arranges a new lay and de-Pressure'is again relieved in cylinder 30, bed I 8 is lowered-'from-head24, projection 69a of lever 25 operates valve a "and motor 46 kickscarriage l 5 to the left.

It will thus be apparent that I'haveprovided a pressing machine whereinone powerunit causes pressure engagement between a plurality of spacedbeds and heads by means of "a simple arrangement of a pivoted pressureapplying lever mounted on the bed carriage.

Pressure can be applied only-when the coacting press members are inregistering position because the forks on lever 25 are short and engagethe plunger of the power unit only when the pressing members are inalignment.

A very efficient means for reciprocating the bed carriage is provided inthe motor-having a short stroke which gives a powerful kick.

Efficient snubbing means is providedfor stopping the carriage.

The entire operation follows automatically upon depression of thecontrol handle by the operator.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine comprising two spaced interconnected pressing bedsadapted totravel in a path, two spaced pressing heads arranged alongsaid path to alternatively coact "with one bed while exposing the otherbed, one fluid pressure actuated cylinder and piston motor for causingpressing engagement between the heads andbeds, and means carried by saidbeds for operatively connecting said motor with that bed only which isin position to coact with one of said heads.

2. A pressing machine comprising two spaced interconnected pressing bedsadapted to travel in a path, two spaced pressing heads arranged alongsaid path to alternatively coact with one bed while exposing the otherbed, one power means for causing pressing engagement between therespective heads and beds, and control means for the power meansactuable in press-closing direction by movement of the bed support intoone of its registering positions.

3. A pressing machine comprising two spaced interconnected'pressing bedsadapted to travel in a path, two spaced pressing heads'arranged alongsaid path to alternatively coact with one bed while exposing the otherbed, one power means for causing pressing engagement between therespective heads and beds, control means 'for the power means actuablein press-closing direction by movement of the bed support into one ofits registering positions, and operator-operated means'for actuatingsaid control means in pressopening direction.

4. A pressing machine comprising a bed supternatively coact with oneport arranged to travel in a path, two spaced pressing beds upon saidsupport, two spaced pressing heads arranged along said path to alof saidbeds while exposing the other of said beds, a pressure applying actuatorintermediate the pressing heads, and a pressure applying lever pivotallymounted on said support and movable totwo positions in each of which oneend of said lever operatively engages one or the other of said bedswhile the opposite "end o f said lever in each position operativelyencases said actuator.

ead,-said mechanism having a part extending to a point intermediate saidheads, power means positioned at said point, and said part being movableinto operative connection with said power means by movement of saidsupport to register a bed and head.

6. A pressing machine comprising a bed support arranged for travel in apath, a reciprocation motor for causing said travel, two spaced bedscarried by the. support, two spaced pressing heads arranged along saidpath and adapted to alternatively coact with one bed while expos- "ingthe other bed, a pressure applying member carried by the bed support,means for applying pressure'to said member to close the press, and

means for actuating the reciprocation motor by movement of the pressureapplying member in press-opening direction.

'7. A pressing machine comprising a bed support arranged for travel in apath, a reciprocation motor for causing said travel, two spaced bedscarried by the support, two spaced pressing heads "arranged along saidpath and adapted to alternatively coact with one bed while exposing theother be'd, a pressure applying member carried by the bed support, meansfor applying pressure to said 'member'to close the press, control meansfor the reciprocation motor, an actuator for said control means, andsaid actuator being so arranged that it is cooked by movement of thepressure applying lever in press-closing direction and operated bymovement of said lever in press opening direction.

8. A pressing machine comprising, coacting pressing members, one memberbeing movable along a straight horizontal path out of tion with theother, fluid pressure actuated means for causing pressing engagementbetween said members, fluid pressure actuated means for causingsaidmovement out of registration, and means for causing actuation ofsaid last-named means operable automatically upon movement of saidmembers out of pressing engagement.

9. A pressing machine comprising a plurality of pressing beds and aplurality of pressing heads adapted to coact with the respective beds,fluid pressure actuated means for moving one bed out .of registrationwith its companion pressing head while moving another bed intoregistration with its companion pressing head, a control valve for saidbed moving means, means for causing press- .ing engagement between therespective heads and .lbeds, and means for causing actuation of said bedmoving means, including a part having an operative connection with saidbed and adapted to actuate. said control valve upon movement of aregistrabed out of pressing engagement with its coacting head.

10. A pressing machine comprising a plurality of pressing beds and aplurality of pressing heads adapted to coact with the respective beds,carriage means for moving one bed out of registration with its companionpressing head while moving another bed into registration with its,companion pressing head, fluid pressure actuated means for causingpressing engagement between the respective heads and beds, and cam meanson said carriage means for causing operation of said lastnamed meansautomatically upon movement of a bed into registration with itscompanion head.

11. A pressing machine comprising a plurality of pressing beds and aplurality of pressing heads adapted to coact with the respective beds, acarriage for moving one bed out of registration with its companionpressing head while moving another bed into registration with itscompanion pressing head, a member mounted on the carriage for causingpressing engagement between the respective heads and beds, means foractuating said member automatically upon movement of a bed intoregistration with its companion head, and means actuated by said memberfor causing movement of said carriage automatically upon movement of ahead and bed out of pressing engagement.

12. A pressing machine comprising two spaced interconnected pressingbeds arranged to travel in a path, two spaced pressing heads along saidpath and arranged to alternatively coact with one of said beds and toexpose the other of said beds, and a fluid motor having a piston with ashort stroke arranged to kick a bed into and/or out of registration witha head.

13. A pressing machine comprising a frame, a bed supporting carriagearranged to travel therealong and inclined friction pads at oppositeends of the bed carriage arranged to coact yieldingly with similar padscarried by the frame.

14. In a pressing machine of the class described, the combination of acarriage arranged for travel in a horizontal path, a bed supported onsaid carriage for vertical movement relative thereto, a head positionedabove the path of travel of said carriage and bed, motion transmittingmeans on said carriage for lifting said bed into engagement with saidhead when said head and bed are in registration, and means for movingsaid carriage and bed out of registration comprising a cylinder having apiston with operative connections adapted to contact said carriage whenfluid is admitted to said cylinder, a control valve which when openedadmits fluid to said cylinder, said valve being the sole means forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinder, and means for openingsaid valve when said bed moves out of engagement with said head.

15. In a pressing machine of the class described, the combination of acarriage adapted to travel in a path, two pressing beds spaced apart onsaid carriage, two spaced pressing heads arranged along said path tocoact with one of said beds while exposing the other of said beds, meansfor moving said carriage alternatively to register each bed with itsrespective head, each of said beds being adapted to be moved relative tosaid carriage into engagement with a head, motion transmitting mechanismmovable with the carriage and adapted to move each of said beds intopressure engagement with their respective heads,

and one power means positioned to havean operative connection with themotion transmitting mechanism of each bed in turn as each bed reachesregistering position.

16. In a pressing machine of the class described, the combination of acarriage arranged for travel in a horizontal path, a bed supported onsaid carriage for vertical movement relative thereto, a stationary headpositioned above the path of travel of said carriage and bed, means formoving said carriage to move the bed into and out of registration withthe head,.power means positioned adjacent the out of registrationposition of said bed, motion transmitting means on said carriage forlifting said bed, said motion transmitting means including a leverpivotally mounted on the carriage, one end of said lever being adaptedto lift the bed from the carriage and the other end of said lever beingadapted to engage said power means when the bed registers with the head,and automatic means for actuating said power means to close the presswhen said bed registers with said head.

- 17. A pressing machine comprising a carriage adapted to travel in ahorizontal path, means for moving saidcarriage, two spaced pressing bedsupon said carriage and vertically movable relative thereto, two spacedpressing heads arranged along said path alternatively to coact with oneof said beds while exposing the other of' a lever pivotally mounted onsaid carriage, said lever having one end arranged to lift a bed relativeto the carriage, and the other end of said lever and said actuator beingarranged to move said lever in bed lifting direction when said bedregisters with a head.

18. A pressing machine comprising a carriage adapted to travel in ahorizontal path, means for moving said carriage, two spaced pressingbeds upon said carriage and vertically movable relative thereto, twospaced pressing heads arranged along said'path alternatively to coactwith one of said beds while exposing the other of said beds at a pointintermediate the heads, a pressure applying actuator adjacent saidpoint, motion transmitting mechanism on said carriage, said mechanismhaving one portion arranged to lift a bed relative to the carriage, andanother portion of said mechanism and said actuator being arranged tomove said mechanism in bed lifting direction when one of said bedsregisters with a head.

19. A pressing machine comprising a bed support arranged to travel in apath, power means located adjacent said path, two spaced pressing bedsupon said support, two spaced pressing heads arranged along said path toalternatively coact with one of said beds while exposing the other ofsaid beds, mechanism carried by the bed support and adapted to'causepressing engagement between each bed and'its'registering head, saidmechanism having two parts adapted for engagement alternatively withsaid power means, each part acting through said mechanism to operate itsrespective bed, and said parts being arranged for operative connectionwith said power means by movement of said bed support alternatively toplace one or the'other of said beds in registry with its coacting head.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON.

